Method and apparatus for sorting strips of material



Sept. 1, 1925. 1,551,807

0. DITTMAR ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING STRIPS 0F MATERIAL Filed Sept. 8. 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 1. 1925 1,551,807

0. F. DITTMAR ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING STRIPS OF MATERIAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Sept. 1, 1925. 1,551,807

0. F. DITTMAR ET AL M E'QHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING STRIPS 0F MATERIAL Filed pt- 192 3 4 Sheets-Sheet s 0 m uh. S w s I I11 .11:: .1:r '1:: :c'

Patented Sept. 1, 1925.1

UNITED STATES 1,551,807 PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER F. DITTMAR AND IRVIN F. DITTMAR, O13 WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA,

ASSIGNORS TO THE CROOKS-DITTMAR COLIPANY, 0F VJILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYL- VANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SORTING STRIPS OF MATERIAL.

Application filed September 8, 1923. Serial No. 661,701.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that we, OLIVER F. DITTMAR and Inv'IN F. DITTMAR, citizens of the United States, residing at VVilliamsport, in the county of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods and Apparatus for Sorting Strips of Material, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying 'drawlngs.

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for sorting strips of material and especially adapted to be used for sorting strips of flooring according to the lengths of the strips so that the prefinished strips of flooring which are to be bound in bundles can be sorted according to their lengths, thereby facilitating the bundling of these strips.

Another object of our invention is to provide novel means for receiving the strips after they leave the sorting table so as to allow the strips to drop into the bin in a substantially horizontal position, thereby preventing the strips from becoming marred or injured in any way.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a novel form of stop which is adapted to be engaged by the strip as 1t 15 forced into the bin so as to stop the strip in its proper position over the shutter.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sorting apparatus which can be built very cheaply, the same being provided with a plurality of bins arranged fan-likearound the curved edge of the sorting table for re ceiving the various lengths of strips as they are sorted on the table.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features thereof defined by the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic t'iew of an apparatus constructed in accordance with our invention;

Figure 2 is a detail vertical section through a portion of the table and one of the binsshowing the pivoted shutter and stop;

Figure 3 is an elevation looking into a number of the bins showing the stops and shutter; and

Figure a is a perspective view of the shutter and pivoted stop showing a portion of one of the partitions forming the bin.

7 In carrying out our invention we employ a table 1 having a straight edge 2 and a curved edge 3 which is struck on the are of two circles of different radius, said table sloping upwardly from a point A to a point B in order to provide an inclined top. The top is provided with a receiving shelf C to receive the strips of flooring to be sorted.

Arranged around the curved edge of the table 1 in a fan-like manner are a plurality of compartments D of various lengths forming bins to receive the strips of lumber from the sorting table 1. These compartments are formed of framework having one of their sides closed as shown at E and notched as shown at F, the edge F being spaced away from the edge 3 of the table and the horizontal portion of the notch lying in a plane slightly below the top ofthe table as shown in Figure 2. i

The particular construction and manner of forming the bins is immaterial as We are aware that these bins can be formed in various ways without departing from the spirit of our invention.

Pivotally mounted within each of the compartments is a shutter G which has a curved face asclearly shown and is provided with extensions G carrying counter-balancing weight G so as to hold the shutter against the closed wall of the partition as clearly shown in Figure 3.

The particular manner of mounting the shutter is immaterial so long as the pivoted shutter is mounted to swing within the bins and held in contact with the closed wall of the bin so as to guide and receive a strip of.

. the shutter and allows the strip to drop into the lower portion of the bin.

Arranged around the bottomof the bins is a bench J arranged in a higher plane than the bottom of the bin so as to support and Cit prevent the strips dropping into the bin from sliding out of the end. The bins gradually increase in width from the edge of the table to their outer ends and the material piling up in the bins has a tendency to slide out of the bins, caused by the inner ends of the strips in the narrow part of the bin reaching agreater height than the outer ends and by the provision of a bench in a higher plane than the bottom of the bins, this tendency is overcome and the ends of the strips are supported on the bench in such a position that they can be readily removed from the bins and placed on a truck.

While in the drawings we have shown a framework constituting the several partitions forming the bins, it is, of course, understood that these partitions could be constructed in various ways and that the bottom of the bins could be left open so that trucks could be run under the respective bins to receive the material, thereby eliminating the handling of the strips of lumber.

In the embodiment of the invention here in shown, a pin K is secured within the table top along the straight edge and the distance from said pin to the cut away portion F of the shortest partition is preferably formed 3 feet 9 inches, and the next partition 4: feet, the distance increasing by 3 inches from the shortest partition to the longest partition where the distance reaches 16 feet 3 inches, thereby enabling the handling of material from 3 feet 9 inches to 16 feet 3 inches in length.

In the operation of an apparatus for carrying out our method of sorting flooring,

the Strips of flooring from a truck are placed on the receiving table C and the operator takes a strip L and places the end against the pin K and swings the strip around the pin K until the end of the strip strikes one of the partitions, he then forces the strip off the table by giving it a shove, so that it shoots into the bin corresponding to the length of the strip, the momentum of the strip being arrested by coming into contact with the pivoted stop arranged at the end of the bin, the pivoted shutter guiding the strip horizontally against the stop which arrests the strip. The weight of the strip then rests on the pivoted shutter which is so counter-balanced that the weight of the strip overcomes the counter-balance of the shutter and the. shutter swings away from its partition and allows the strip to drop horizontally into the bottom of the bin.

This particular manner of arresting and supporting the strip in the bin is for the purpose of preventing the strip from being marred as it is allowed to drop into the bin and we are aware that the pivoted shutter and stop can be eliminated and a sorting device formed which will sort strips of lumber according to their length without the use of these parts, but in handling high grade lumber and especially in handling prefinishcd flooring, by the use of these parts, we have found that the flooring strips will not be marred or injured in any way.

This operation is repeated and as each strip is placed around the pivot pin K and swung over the table, it is sorted according to the length of the strip, as for instance, if a strip 6 feet 1 inch long were placed on the table and swung around the pin, it would be brought into engagement with the end of the bin which is just 6 feet from the pivot K and while we have only shown a sorting device capable of sorting strips of lumber within 3 inches of their length, we are aware that by changing the construction and increasing the number of bins, a sorting machine can be produced which will sort strips of lumber within 1 inch of their lengths and in sorting strips of flooring for bundling the same, we have found that by sorting the strips according to their lengths within 3 inches, the strips within the different compartments can be bundled so that approximately the number of feet within each bundle can be determined.

In constructing an apparatus in accordance with our invention, the bins have a greater length than the distance from the pivot to the entrance of the bins so as to form a clearance for the strips of material as they are forced into the respective bins and as these strips are swung around the pivot on the inclined surface and strike one of the partitions, they are forced into the bin corresponding to the length of the strip and through the medium of the bumpers and shutters, their movement is arrested and they are allowed to drop into the bins.

lVhile in the drawings we have shown certain details of construction, we wish it to be clearly understood that we do not wish to limit ourselves to these details as our invention consists broadly in providing a sorting table having a curved edge around which are arranged in a fan-like manner a plurality of bins to receive the various lengths of strips sorted on the table.

What we claim is l. A sorting machine comprising a supporting surface, a pivot pin and a series of stops arranged near the edge of said surface, said stops being arranged at different distances from said pin.

2. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber according to their length comprising supporting surface having a pivot pin disposed thereon adjacent one edge thereof and a series of stops spaced from the opposite edge of said surface, said stops being arranged at different distances from said pin.

3. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber according to their length vcomprising a supporting surface having a pivot pin adjacent one edge thereof, said surface having a curved edge gradually increasing in length from said pivot pin and a series of bins disposed around the curved edge of said surface. I

4. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber according to their length comprising a supporting surface having a pivot pin adjacent one edge thereof, said surface having a curved edge gradually increasing in length from said pivot pin and a series of bins disposed around the curved edge of said surface and projecting upwardly above said surface.

5. An apparatus for-sorting strips of lumber according to their length comprising a supporting surface having a fulcrunipin projecting upwardly therefrom and against which a strip of lumber is adapted to be placed and moved over said surface, a series of bins disposed adjacent one edge of said surface forming stops, movable shutters mounted in said bins and bumpers disposed in the ends of said bins adapted to be engaged by said strips when moved off of said surface. 6. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber according to their length comprising a table having a straight edge and a curved edge, a series of bins arranged fan-like around the curved edge of said table of different lengths, a pivot pin disposed adjacent the straight edge of said table, said bins projecting upwardly beyond the sur face of said table forming stops for the strips as they are moved over'said surface.

7. The method of sorting strips of lumber according to their length consisting in consecutively supporting strips of lumber on a surface, moving said strips around a pivot pin disposed on said surface until the end thereof is brought into=engagement with a stop disposed adjacent said surface, then forcing said strips endwise off of said surface and separately collecting said strips.

8. The method of sorting strips of lumber consisting in consecutively moving strips of lumber around a pivot on a supporting surface, arresting th movement of said strips on said surface according to their length and then moving said strips lengthwise off of said surface. I

9. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber according to their length comprising a table having a straight edge and a curved edge, a pivot pin disposed along the straight edge of said table, the curved edge of said table gradually increasing from said pivot pin. towards one end thereof, a plurality of bins of different lengths disposed adjacent the curved end of said table and projecting upwardly above the surface of said table to form stops, pivoted shutters mounted in said bins and movable bumpers arranged at the ends of said bins.

10. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber according to their length consisting of an inclined supporting surface having astraight edge and a curved edge, a pivot disposed adjacent the straight edge, a plurality of bins disposed adjacent the curved end forming stops and movable shutters disposed in said bins.

11. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber according to their length comprising an inclined supporting surface having a pin against which the end of the strip of material is adapted to be placed, said surface having a curved edge gradually increasing in distance from said pivot, bins disposed around the curved edge of said surface and spaced therefrom, said bins projecting up above said surface forming stops for the swinging movement of the material on said surface and movable shutters to receive the strips of lumber from said surface.

12. A sorting apparatus comprising a supporting surface upon which strips of lumber are adapted to be moved in the arc of a circle and means arranged in the path of travel of said strips for arresting said strips for sorting said strips according to their lengths.

18. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber comprising a table having a straight edge and a curved edge, a pivot pin disposed on said table along the straight edge,

a series of bins disposed fan-like around thecurved edge of said table of various len ths, the distance between said pin and said ins being slightly less than the length of said bins to allow clearance to receive strips of material from said table, and shutters dis posed within said bins to receive strips of material from said table.

14. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumi ber according to their length comprising a table having a straight edge and a curved edge, a pivot pin disposed on said table adjacent the straight edge, a series of bins disposed fan-like around the curved edge of said table, said bins being of different lengths, said bins projectin upwardly above said surface, movable s iutters disposed within said bins, counter-balancing weights for holding said shutters against the walls of said bins and movable bumpers disposed over the ends of said bins for arresting the endwise movement of the strips of lumber when forced into said bins.

15. A sorting apparatus comprising a table having an inclined top provided with a straight edge and a curved edge, a pivot pin disposed adjacent the straight edge of said table, the curved edgeof saidtable gradually increasing in length from said pivot pin, a series of bins of different lengths disposed around the curved edge of said a Nova" table, said bins being provided with portions extending above the surface of said table to form stops, spaced different distances from the pivot of said table, pivoted shutters disposed in said bins and movable bumpers disposed over the ends of said bins.

16. An apparatus for sorting strips of lumber according to their length comprising a supporting surface having a fulcrum pin adjacent one edge thereof, said surface hav ing a curved edge gradually increasing in length from said fulcrum pin, series of bins disposed in a plane below said surface around the curved edge of said surface, stops arranged adjacent the curved edgeof said surface and yieldable bumpers arranged in the ends of said bins adapted to be engaged by the strips of lumber when forced into said bins. 17. An apparatus for sorting strips of lu1nber according to their length comprising a supporting surface having a fulcrum pin adjacent one edge thereof, said surface having a curved edge gradually increasing in in said bins to arrest the falling movement of the strips of lumber as they are forced into said bins.

18. A sorting machine comprising a supporting surface, a pivot pin, a series of stops arranged near the edge of said sur face, said stops being arranged at different distances from said pin and a series of bins arranged fanlike around one edge of said surface.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

OLIVER DITTMA-R. IRVIN F. DITTMAR. 

